Welcome to the forum! Great story, by the way. You've begun your Taylor journey with an excellent specimen. The 800 series has always been a mainstay of the Taylor line. (By the way, is this a 2014 redesigned 816?) I'm presuming you've chosen the 16 (Grand Symphony) size, because you're comfortable with it. It's also a great choice as you are playing with other musicians, and you want your guitar to be heard in the mix. I actually prefer a 14 (Grand Auditorium) size for myself (light gauge strings, very balanced tone, comfortable for a variety of playing styles), but the 16s are also great guitars.
It has often been said that maple back guitars are good at cutting through the mix in an ensemble setting, so a 616 might be a great compliment/alternative to your 816. It will have great fundamental tone without a lot of overtones, and the note decay will be quicker than with your rosewood 16. Of course, you can throw this theory out the window if everyone is plugging in to play together. Proper settings on the PA or amp can also help with balancing the sound of your guitar with other musicians. Still, the 616 is a nice alternative that comes in many different color/finish options.
If you don't want to swing the pendulum too far in the opposite direction from your 816, a nice compromise would be a 516 (mahogany back and sides). When it comes to the classic tonewoods, you'll find that some folks are rosewood people while others are mahogany people. Some folks like both, so it's worth a try. You could even push a bit further with the 500 series with a 526 (same size, but with a mahogany top). It's really a matter of what sound speaks to you.
There are many other tonewood and shape options, but the models above might be a good place to start. Have fun in your journey!
